Zurich renews title sponsorship through 2014

NEW ORLEANS (AP)  The PGA Tour picked up another key sponsor extension Tuesday when Zurich Financial said it would continue its title sponsorship of the New Orleans tournament through 2014.

That gives the PGA Tour seven title sponsors who have contracts through 2014. Zurich, which took over as the sponsor in New Orleans in 2005, becomes the third company this year to extend its deal that long. The others were Accenture (Match Play Championship) and Travelers (Connecticut).

The tour has lost title sponsors in Milwaukee after this year and Phoenix after next year.

"Zurich remains committed to the children in the area who benefit through our partnership with the PGA Tour and the Fore!Kids Foundation and to the city and the people of New Orleans," CEO James J. Schiro said.

The announcement came at an economic forum, during which officials said the tournament has pumped $30 million into the New Orleans each year. The Zurich Classic has raised more than $6 million for charities serving 200,000 children in southeastern Louisiana since the Swiss-based company became title sponsor in 2005.

The Fore!Kids Foundation is the not-for-profit group that runs the tournament.